Ballard County Board of Education approves bus purchase, multiple facilities contracts and personnel actions

The Ballard County Board of Education unanimously approved a set of routine and facilities-related actions at its Oct. 21 meeting in Barlow, including a school bus purchase, amendments and contracts for the district facilities plan, and personnel changes.

Committee member Ivey Rollings moved and Brandon Birney seconded action item 8410, approving a proposal to purchase a bus; the motion passed unanimously. Committee member Cathy Drummond moved and Tammy Dennis seconded approval of the FFA travel request (8411), which the board also approved unanimously. The board approved calendar committee appointments (8412) and an emergency reading of BOE policy 09.4232 (8413) by unanimous vote.

On facilities matters, the board unanimously approved several items: action 8414, a Phase 2C fire panel change order; 8415, an amendment to BG-1 24-313 to address the fire panel; 8416, approval of Phase 3 BG-4; and 8417, contracting with CMS for the next phase of the District Facility Plan. The board also declared surplus property under action 8418.

The consent agenda — approved at the start of the meeting — included the treasurer's report, minutes, bills, expulsions to date, superintendent expenses, personnel items, a KETS first offer of assistance, a CMS contract for BCES soffit repair, and a Marcum contract for HS/MS HVAC replacement. New hires listed on the consent agenda included Jaden Smith as a BCMS/BMHS custodian and Mindy Lynn for BCMS/BMHS food service and custodial duties; certified substitute Madison Schmidt was noted. The board recorded the retirement of Ricky Howard (effective Sept. 30, 2024) and resignations for Ryan Collins (9/26/24) and Jayde Dodge (10/25/24).

Superintendent Casey Allen presented several non-action items, including a KSA scores update, cheerleading uniform plans, enrollment and attendance data, and recognition of student and staff achievements. The board unanimously approved a motion to adjourn the regular session and begin an executive session pursuant to KRS 61.810(f); the meeting later reconvened and adjourned. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Nov. 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Ballard County Board of Education offices in Barlow.

Votes at a glance

- 8410 Bus purchase — Moved: Ivey Rollings; Second: Brandon Birney; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8411 FFA travel request — Moved: Cathy Drummond; Second: Tammy Dennis; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8412 Calendar committee members — Moved: Brandon Birney; Second: Cathy Drummond; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8413 Emergency reading BOE policy 09.4232 — Moved: Tammy Dennis; Second: Cathy Drummond; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8414 Phase 2C fire panel change order — Moved: Brandon Birney; Second: Cathy Drummond; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8415 Amend BG-1 24-313 for fire panel — Moved: Tammy Dennis; Second: Ivey Rollings; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8416 Phase 3 BG-4 — Moved: Cathy Drummond; Second: Tammy Dennis; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8417 CMS contracts for next phase of District Facility Plan — Moved: Cathy Drummond; Second: Ivey Rollings; Outcome: approved unanimously. - 8418 Declaration of surplus property — Moved: Brandon Birney; Second: Tammy Dennis; Outcome: approved unanimously.

The meeting record shows unanimous approvals for each listed action; when motions listed a mover and a seconder, those names are recorded above. The transcript does not provide individual roll-call tallies beyond the board's unanimous vote statements. The board noted upcoming business and adjourned following an executive session.